Musical instrument



J. WEBER. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, I919- Patented'July 27, 1920-.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

.I. WEBER.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, I9I9- I 1,347,977, Patented July 27, 1920;

4 SHEETSSHEET 2- L WEBER.-

' MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

I APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, I919- v I 1,347,977. Patented July 27, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

J. WEBER.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

AfPUCATlON man APR. 7. 1919.

Patented July 27, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ous switch devices effect the stopping. or

UNITED STATES PA ENT OF ICE.

JOHN WEBER, or PI-IILADELBHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed April 7, 1919. Serial No. 288,395."

To all whom it may concern: 7

Belt known that I, JOHN 'TEBER, a sub- .ject of the King of Hungary, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification. 7

One object of my'invention is to effect the automaticplaying of a number of musical instruments electrically when another musical instrument 1s manually played and more particularly to effect the automatlc.

playing of musical instruments, such as wind operated instruments andxylophones bythe manual playing of a chromatic accordion. 4

Another object is to so construct my invention that various combinations of tones produced in the bass or accompaniment section oi the chromatic accordion can be auto-.

matically produced inthe bass or accompaniment section of another wind operated in strument and at the same time'to so arrange the parts of my invention that the melody or chromatically arranged section of a manually operative accordion canbe operated to produce the automatic operation of the melody or chromatically arranged section ofanother wind operated instrument.

A still further object is to make my invention of a simple and durable construction so that the manually operative accordioncan be manipulated without inconvenience to the musician and so that the automat1cally'operative musical nstruments can be placed at positions remote from. the manually opera' tive instrument. 7 y

Another object is to so construct my invention that the musician, playing upon the manually operative instrument can by varioperation of any of the automatically operative instruments or the stopping of various ally operative on an enlarged scale,

of a manually operative chromatic accordion made in. accordance with my invention, i 7 I,

Fig.3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of certain'of the parts shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing certain-of the elements in the bass and chromatically arranged .key sections of the manuaccordion shown in Figs. 2 and 3,

Specification of LettersPatent. Patented J l v Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an electrically operative wind instrumentmade in accordance withmy invention, the same being lllustrated as made 111 the form of a chr0- 'matic accordion with its sectionsat opposite sides of the bellows secured insubstantially fixed relation,

Fig. 6 is an elevation of Fig. 5 looking in the. direction of the arrow as,

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 7.7 of Fig. 6 and drawn Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section of certain of the parts shown in Figs. 5, (Sand 7,

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional elevation of a Xylophone arranged in accordance with my invention, 1

Fig, i() is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation partly in section of a portion of the ylophone shown in Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section through a modified form or solenoid.

Referring-to the drawings, 12 represents a manually operative portable chromatic accordion, 13 is a wind operatedinstrument made out of a chromatic accordion by securing together its sections at each side of its bellows as will be described hereinafter, and

which can be automatically played when the accordion 12 is manually operated, and 14L represents a Xylophone which also can be automatically played by the manual playing of the accordion 12. The accordion 12, as in the usual construction of accordions of this type, includes two general sections 15 and 16, the section 15 having the melody or chromatically arranged keys 17, and the section 16 having the accompaniment or bass keys 18. The keys 17 are arranged'in layers or banks and are operatively connected to valves 19 having the usual reeds (not illustrated), in alinement therewith, said reeds being adapted to vibra-te to produce the various tones when air is expelled from and takenin the air chamher 20, when said sections are moved apart and together to produce the air compression and suction in the usual manner of manually operative accordions; it being noted that in the accordion 12, the usual accordion plaited bellows 21 is provided between 7 the sections 15 and 16, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. y

The keys 18 in the bass or accompaniment section 16 are connected in the usual manner to various harmonic combinations of valves 22, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 1. Thus-when any one of the keys 18 is manually moved it will serve to operate a number of the valves 22 to produce a harmonic combination or". low tones which provides the obligato or accompaniment to the mel- :ody, for example, as played upon the keys 17.

The instrument 13 also includes a chromatic or melody section 23 and a bass or accompaniment section 2% which are secured together by a bar 2 1; an air chamber 25 be ing provided between said twosections. Keys 26 in the section 23 are operatively connected to valves 27 which are in alinement with reeds (not illustrated), which are preferably arranged to vibrate only when the valves are opened to permit escape of air from the chamber 25, said reeds serving, whenthe valves 27 are opened due to the automatic movement of the keys 26 in a manner hereinafter described, to vibrate and thereby produce tones caused by the escape of air from said chamber 25. Air is supplied to the chamber 25 by means of a bellows 28, said bellows being operated by connecting rods 29 on a shaft 30. 1 The shaft 30 has a pulley wheel 31 thereon which is driven-by a belt 32 connected to an electric motor 33. The bellows 28 has a flexible tube connection with the chamber 25. The top section of the bellows 28 has an arm 36 pivotally mounted thereon, said arm having a valve 37 which normally closes an opening in the top section 35. The valve 31" is normally held in a closed position by a spring 39 which presses against the arm 36. However, ifthe air pressure in the bell0\ s 28 becomes too great the end 410 of the arm 36 will strike against a stop 41 on the frame 4-2 and cause the valve 37 to be opened to release the pressure within the bellows. Thus the 'valve 37 servesas a safety valve to prevent injury to the bellows. Cushion springs 13 are interposed between the seciion of the bellows and the top 44 of the frame 12 and serve to provide pressure to prevent'the section 35 from rising too quickly and also to keep the air within the bellows under pressure. 1

A partition 15 is provided in the casing 16 of the instrument 13 and separates the air chamber 25 from a compartment 17, said compartment 47 being directly above the top 4% of the frame 12. Bass or accompaniment section valves 48 are mounted within the compartment 4:? and are arranged in alinement with reeds (not illustrated) which are adapted to vibrate in the usual manner when the valves 48 are opened to permit the air from the chamber 25 to escape. The valves 18 are arranged similarly to the valves 22 in the accordion 12.

The Xylophone 1 1 comprises a frame e9 having'mounted thereon vibratory tone producing bars 50, said bars, as illustrated, being arranged in horizontal position and capable, when struck, of producing musical sounds. The frame 49 is mounted on a standard 51. The accordion 12 has two metallic busbars 52 and 53. The busbar 52, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, has elongated portions 52 which extend in a serpentine or zig'zag' manner between the layers or banks of keys 17. These busbars are connected together by an electric wire 54 which includes a switch 55 and extends to one pole of an electric battery 56 or other suitable generator of electricity. Each of the keys 17 is provided with a metallic finger 59, and springs are positioned between the respective fingers 59 and the busbar 52, said springs normally being out of engagement with the busbar 52 and also serving to hold the keys 17 in their normal position. However, when any of the keys are depressed, their respective lingers will move the springs 60 into engagement with the adjacent portions 52 of the busbar 52 and thereby provide an electric connection between the fingers 59 and the busbar A coupling block 61 of insulating material is made in two sections 62 and 63. The section 63 of the coupling block 61 has metallic recessed members 64; which are spaced apart and adapted to be engaged by metallic pins in the section said pins fitting within the recesses of said members 6 1 and serving to hold the two sections together and also to provide an electric contact between the pins 65 and the members 6 1. The members 641- are connected by wires 66" to the respective fingers 59, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Each of the pins 65 has a wire (36 connected thereto, said wires 66 being respectively connected to metallic pins (37 in a section 68 of a coupling block 69. The coupling block 69 has another section 70 constructed similarly to the section 63 of the coupling block 61, said section having recessed metallic members 71 into which the pins 67 fit. The members 71 are respectively connected by wires 72 to one end of wire coils 73 of solenoids 74. The opposite ends of the wire coils 73 are connected to a metallic busbar 75. The busbar 75 in turn is connected by a wire 76 to the opposite pole of the battery 56. The solenoids 741 have ,slidable metallic cores 77 which, when an electric current is passed through the teeter respective wire coils ,73, will bepulled or the accordion 12 is manually moved, the

valve 19 connected therewith will be opened to produce a tone and at the same time an electric circuit will be completed through the busbar 52 and finger 59, andthe respec- .tive solenoid 74, which is connected electrically therewith, will be energized to move its core. The cores 77 have eyelets 7 8 (see Figs. 7 and 8) which form pivotal connections for links 79, said links being pivotally connected to arms 80. The arms 80 are pivotally connected at 81 to an eXtension'82 of the casing 416 of the instrument 13 and are also connected with rods 83. The'rods 83 are adjustably bolted, as shown at 84, to the arms 80, and the upper ends of the rods 83 are pivotally connected to the keys 26. The keys 26 in turn are pivoted at 87 It will, therefore, be seen that when the cores 77 of the solenoids 7 1' are moved that they will operate the keys 26 and open the valves 27. This action will release air from the chamber 25 and cause the vibrations of the reeds and a tone will be produced corresponding to the tone produced by the opening of the corresponding valve in the accordion 12. -The inner ends of the solenoid cores 77 are provided with cushioned tips 88 which are adapted to strike the upper ends of adjusting screws .89 which are mounted within said solenoids. It will be noted that by turning the adjusting screws 89 the extent of inward movement of the cores 77 will be varied and therefore the extent oftne opening movement of the valves 27 will be varied. Thus it is possible to regulate, by the use of the screws 89, the volume or character of tone emitted from the instrument 13 when the valves27 are opened. It

will be further notedthat therods 83 also;

provide adjustment which will changethe position of the cores 77 with relation to the 0 keys 26 and thereby vary the tone produced by the opening of the valves 27. v

The bass or accompaniment keys 18 are operatively connected to levers 90 which actuate the valves 22. These levers 90 are all electrically connected to the busbar 53. The busbar 53, as previously stated, is connected to the wire 54 and a cutout switch 91 is provided adjacent the busbar 53. The levers 90, when the keys 18 are manually actuated, are adapted to engage contact members 92. These contact members are respectively connected by wires 93 to the wire coils 9 1 of solenoids 95 mounted in the instrument 13 directly below the partition 45. A coupling block 96 is provided for the wires 93 with the accordion 12 and a coupling block 97 is provided for the wires 93 with the instrument 13. blocks 96 and 97 are constructed similarly tothe coupling blocks 61 and 69 above described, the sections being freely removable to entirely disconnect the instruments 12 and I 13 when desired. The solenoids 95 are con- The coupling structedsimilarlyto the solenoids 74.- and have cores 98 which are connected to the bass or accompaniment valves 18, I as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The opposite ends of the wire coils 9 1 are connected to a busbar 9-9;

which in turn is connected by a wire 95 to the wire 76. Thus when'any one of the accompaniment or bass keys 18 of the accordion 12 is manually operated a respective solenoid 95 will be operated to automatically open corresponding valves 48in the instrument 13. The Xylophone 14; has solenoids 99 mounted directly underthe tone bars-.50. The solcnoids99 have cores 100 which are so arranged that when the solenoids are energized the upper ends of said cores will be raised and strike the tone bars 50. One end of each of the wire coils 101 of the solenoids 99 is connected to a me tallic busbar 102. This busbar 102 is con nected by a wire 103 with the wire 76 to the battery 56 and includes a cut-out switch 104. The opposite ends of the wire coils 101 of the solenoids 99 are respectively con nected by wires 105 to the fingers 59 on the keys 17. Coupling blockslOG and 107 are and accordion 12 and these blocks are con structed similarly to the coupling blocks prevlously described and permit the Xyloprovided respectively at the Xylophone 14 phone to be entirely disconnected from the accordion 12. Considering that the switch 104 is closed, the actuation of any one of the kevs 17 will cause a respectivesolenoid 99 to be operated and the core of said solenoid will bemoved to strike and therefore vibrate thetone bar 501under which it is directly placed.

Thus by the manual operation of the keys 17 and 18 of the accordion 12 I am enabled to effect the automatic playing of the 111-- strument 13 and Xylophone 141, and the structure is such as not to interfere with the free manipulation of the accordion 12 for the reason that all of the wires can be housed in a singlecable, such as illustrated at 108 in Fig. tand single branches such as 109 and 110 can be respectively connected to the instrument 13 and xylophonel l. However, in Fig. 1, I have illustrated the wires as spread apart so as to clearly show the 'respective'electric connection. Furthermore,

For ex- 104. Or it he desires to stop'the playing of both the Xylophone and instrument 13 he can do so by opening the switch In the same manner it he desires to stop the playing 01'? the basses in the instrument 1.3 he can do so by opening the switch 9i. In Fig. 11 I have illustrated a modification of solenoid which may be used in connection with the Xylophone 14 for actuating the tone oars 5U thereot and instead of actuating said tone bars from the bottom, as shown in. Figs. 9 and 10 the core 1.1.1 is positioned so that when the solenoid 1.12 is energized the end 113 will be moved downwardly and strike the tops of the tone bars 50. A spring lll is connected to the core 11]. and to an adjusting screw The spring 114 serves to pull the core 111 upwardly after it has been moved downwardly. to strike the tone bar and after the solenoid has become de'energized.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit my-- seli to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such cl anges and alter: tions as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination of two wind operated instruments each having a melody and an accompaniment section respectively provided with valves; means for operatively connecting in combination valves of each 7 of the accompaniment sections whereby harmonic combinations of tones are produced simultaneously in said accompaniment sections of each instrument when said means is actuated; one of said instruments having keys for operating the melody section valves and keys for operating said combination connecting means of the accompaniment valves; and automatically operative means for opening the melody section valves of the other of said instruments when the first mentioned keys are operated and for operating the combination connecting means of valves or". the accompaniment section of said other instrument when said first mentioned keys are operated; substantially as described.

2. The combination of a manually operative musical instrument having a plurality of banks oi keys; a busbar having elongated portions extending in zig-Zag manner under the respective banks of keys; a second musical instrument having a plurality of sound producing elements; electrically operative devices for respectivelyactuating said latter mentioned elements to produce tones; a source of electric current; electric contacts carried by said keys and normally held out of engagement with the respective elongated portions of said bus bar; means for electrically connecting said source of current with each of said electriially operative devices; and means for electrically connecting a corresponding one of said contacts respec tively with each of said electrically operative devices in the second instrument whereby when each of said first keys is actuated to move its contact into engagen'ient with said busbar the respective electrically operative device will be actuated in said second instrument; substantially as described.

, In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WEBER.

lVitnesses Gno. STIKIJL, CHAS. E. Po'r'rs. 

